American ultra-runner Tyler Andrews has etched his name into mountaineering history by reaching the summit of Mount Everest in just 9 hours, 55 minutes and 43 seconds from Base Camp, setting a new speed record and surpassing a mark that had stood since 2003. The feat broke the previous record established by Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa by more than an hour.
Andrews completed the climb on May 28 after years of preparation and several previous attempts. Using supplemental oxygen and ascending via the Southeast Ridge route, he covered nearly 18 miles and more than 12,000 feet of elevation gain. Remarkably, he also established a new round-trip record by returning to Base Camp in just over 16 and a half hours.
The achievement has drawn widespread praise from the endurance sports community, though it has also sparked debate among mountaineers regarding the role of supplemental oxygen and route familiarity in speed-climbing records. Nevertheless, the ascent has been officially verified and stands as one of the most remarkable endurance accomplishments ever recorded on the world’s highest mountain.
